Greenbrier ‘Better Together’ Strategy Accelerates

William C. Vantuono photo.

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. on Jan. 8 formally launched its new organizational structure supporting the company’s “Better Together” strategy unveiled at its April 2023 Investor Day. The new structure reorganizes its operating activities in two “distinct geographies,” The Americas and Europe. Greenbrier will also be transitioning to a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role, and completed a succession plan for Chief Legal & Compliance Officer (CLO/CCO).

Brian Comstock, a 26-year Greenbrier veteran with more than four decades of railway industry experience, is now Executive Vice President and President, The Americas, with responsibility for all operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Brazil. William Glenn, who has spent more than 20 years at Greenbrier in various roles, is now Senior Vice President and President, Europe, with responsibility for all operations. Both Comstock and Glenn continue to report to CEO and President Lori Tekorius.

Current CFO Adrian Downes will step down on or about March 31, 2024. He continues as Greenbrier’s Principal Financial Officer until he transitions to serve the company as a senior advisor to the CEO through March 2025. A national search for a new CFO is under way.

Christian Lucky is now Senior Vice President and CLO/CCO, reporting to Tekorius. Lucky’s appointment completes a planned succession from Martin Baker, who served as CLO/CCO since 2008. Baker now serves as Senior Vice President, reporting to Tekorius.

“The streamlined organization is designed to drive organizational effectiveness, improve efficiency, leverage best practices and improve customer experience to drive greater shareholder value,” said Tekorius. “Since Greenbrier’s formation in the 1980s, we have grown to lead in all markets where we operate. Now is the time to leverage the benefits of scale and standardization. The changes will bring greater focus and accountability to our operating units while driving efficiency in our enabling functions. To advance to Greenbrier’s next growth phase, we must continue collaborating and working Better Together as a unified organization.

“I am confident these changes in our business operations will support progress on our strategic priorities, and Greenbrier will continue to excel as we simplify our structure. These changes are intended to support and empower Greenbrier employees across the organization. The new organizational design of our business operations provides the right platform for the next phase of our growth and to deliver value for all Greenbrier stakeholders, especially our employees, customers and shareholders.”

“Among his many contributions, Adrian [Downes] took actions critical to strengthening our balance sheet, helped Greenbrier’s expanding global operations platform integrate with accounting and finance, and aided the development of our long-term strategic plan,” Tekorius noted. “We appreciate HIS dedication and service.

“During 16 years of service, Martin [Baker] modernized Greenbrier’s legal function. Under his leadership, our legal team helped Greenbrier adapt and respond to the challenges of rapid growth. Christian {Lucky] possesses the right background and experience to lead Greenbrier’s newly formed Legal and Administration team to address our future needs.”